Limitless Pill NZT-48: Do Smart Drugs Like NZT Exist in Real Life?

If you were hoping to pop a capsule and dominate life in 2018, you’re not alone. Things would be a lot easier if success and wealth came in a limitless pill or tablet form. Workplace promotions and a 4.0 GPA in a bottle certainly sounds like the future, but is it a current reality? Not exactly, but with new brain supplements, we’re a lot closer than you might think.

The powerful and highly dangerous nootropic smart drug known as “NZT-48” was the pill from Limitless that could unlock 100% of your brain. The 2011 Hollywood blockbuster movie and the subsequent TV series opened our imaginations to the possibility of unlimited intelligence. The plot cleverly pandered to the world-renowned and seemingly indestructible myth that we only use 10% of our brain.

In this article, we’ll explore the truth behind the limitless pill and the 10% brain usage myth. We will also discuss whether a drug like NZT exists, and what are the best types of nootropic supplements for brain enhancement.

What Is the Limitless Pill NZT-48?

If you’re unfamiliar with the movie, you may be wondering, what is the limitless pill? The limitless pill NZT-48 is the fictional cognitive enhancing super-drug in the 2011 Hollywood blockbuster movie, Limitless. The film featured well-known actors, Bradley Cooper (as struggling author and writer Eddie Morra) and Robert De Niro (as finance mogul Carl Van Loon).

Picture this: You wake up each morning with mental fatigue. You have no energy and motivation. Your memory is poor. You have abysmal finances and no direction in life. Your significant other leaves you due to lack of progress, and your rent is past due and you’re about to get evicted. No problem—there’s a pill for that. Such is the life of Eddie Morra. The movie follows Eddie as he perseveres through a recent breakup and looming unemployment to reach the top of the financial world. All he had was the help of a handful of futuristic NZT pills from his former brother in law, which fueled his rise to fame.

Besides skyrocketing brain power, the limitless pills came with an addictive dark side and a multitude of unpredictable adverse side effects. Even so, the drug’s effects on cognition were so potent, that its subsequent crash was unable to deter potential users. When taken, NZT-48 provides superhuman mental acuity, making you feel “limitless.”

The capsule instills perfect information recall, instant learning capabilities, prodigious charisma, incredible multitasking abilities, and hyper-competence for any new tasks. NZT is a memory booster of sorts allowing you to recall any piece of information—even random dates, times, and places that were observed by the subconscious mind. The limitless drug gave Eddie all the mental tools he needed for his meteoric ascent to the top 1% of society.

Is the NZT Pill from Limitless Real?

While unparalleled brain enhancement sounds amazing, here’s the question we all have: Is the pill from Limitless real? Unfortunately, the limitless pill as you know it from the movie does not exist—NZT-48 pills are not real. Hollywood exaggerated the effects of the drug for the sake of entertainment value, but we still have hope for brain enhancement. There are many excellent supplements for improving focus and mental function which will address shortly. But first, we need to discuss the longstanding myth that we only use 10% of our brain.

Is It True That We Only Use 10% of Our Brain?

As great as that would be if it were true, all current scientific evidence disproves this theory. For the past century, we have witnessed advancements in technologies explicitly designed to monitor functional brain traffic. Behavioral neuroscience seeks to record chemical, magnetic, and electrical changes in the brain under certain conditions. Extensive studies and tests using sophisticated instruments like EEGs, PET scanners, and MRI machines allowed researchers to localize numerous psychological functions to specific brain systems.

It is true, to some extent, that at any given moment throughout the day you may find regions of the brain that are inactive. This fact does not mean that we need NZT-48 pills to light them up. Regions may appear dormant because each part of the brain serves a specific function and may not be in use at that time. Research suggests during a 24-hour period you will use 100% of your brain at different intervals throughout the day. With that said, neuroscience has yet to discover an untapped cerebral reservoir of brain power that we can unlock with a limitless pill.

Closest Thing to Limitless Pill NZT-48

What is the closest thing to the limitless pill in real life? We know there’s no better way to get ahead in life than good old-fashioned hard work. However, modern nutritional science continues to push the boundaries of the human body. Smart drugs and nootropics do exist, and they’re the closest thing to NZT in real life that you’ll find. Keep in mind; there is no single pill capable of solving everyone’s problems. But through proper supplementation, it’s possible to boost brain power and become a more productive and focused human being. Who doesn’t want that?

There are three primary categories of nootropics and smart pills to consider. These are natural and herbal nootropics, prescription ADHD medications, and racetams and synthetic nootropics. We will briefly cover each group, and list some of the most popular brain supplements within each.

1. Natural & Herbal Nootropics

Natural and herbal nootropics are by far the safest brain enhancers, so they’re worth covering first. We’re advocates for naturally enhancing cognitive function without introducing unnecessary adverse side effects. Due to the risks associated with prescription medications and synthetic smart drugs, it’s not often that we recommend them. Our preferred limitless pill will always be herbs and proper nutrition designed to support a healthy mind.

There are many different categories of natural brain supplements to consider. These nootropics include amino acids, B vitamins, choline sources, fatty acids, and herbs derived from Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda existed for thousands of years, and first originated in India. This branch of medicine is one of the oldest in the world, focusing on the use of herbal compounds for treating common ailments.

Most natural brain enhancers can be obtained through dietary means. However, the vast majority of herbal compounds that promote cognition remain absent from the traditional western diet. Thus, we need additional supplements if we hope to achieve peak mental function. Here’s a quick list of the top herbal and natural brain boosters you can use as your alternative to NZT-48.

Amino Acids

Acetyl-L-Carnitine

L-Theanine

L-Tyrosine

GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid)

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)

B Vitamins

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B9 (Folate or Folic Acid)

Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)

Choline Sources

DMAE

Lecithin

Choline Bitartrate

CDP-Choline (Citicoline)

Alpha GPC (Choline Alfoscerate)

Fatty Acids

Omega-3 Fish Oil (EPA and DHA)

Phosphatidylserine (PS)

MCT Oil (Medium-Chain Triglycerides)

Herbal

Ashwagandha

Ginkgo Biloba

Bacopa Monnieri

Huperzine A

Rhodiola Rosea

St. John’s Wort

Vinpocetine

Caffeine is a natural stimulant that’s worth mentioning, but it belongs in a class of its own. As a key component in many different types of teas and coffee beans, caffeine reliably improves both mental and physical energy levels. This nootropic stacks well with L-Theanine due to Theanine’s ability to counteract the crash and jitters associated with caffeine consumption. When stacked, these two supplements provide smooth and long-lasting energy without excessive stimulation. Caffeine and L-Theanine also cooperate exceptionally well with the other natural and herbal brain boosters listed above.

2. Prescription ADHD Medications

The mystique surrounding NZT-48 has diverted attention to ADHD medications as a possibility for cognitive enhancement. Though we don’t condone the off-label use of prescription drugs, certain ADHD treatments can be quite powerful for improving mental clarity in otherwise healthy individuals. Modafinil and Adderall are the most commonly used for enhancing brain function, but there are several others available. It’s important to recognize that ADHD meds are not real life limitless pills. These are potent substances that can be highly dangerous if abused. Therefore, you should only take them under the supervision of a medical professional.

Adderall (Amphetamine)

Concerta (Methylphenidate)

Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate)

Modafinil (Provigil)

Armodafinil (Nuvigil)

Ritalin (Methylphenidate)

Strattera (Atomoxetine)

Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate)

Due to Adderall’s amphetamine classification, it’s arguably the most dangerous drug on the list. Unfortunately, Adderall is also the most well-known study drug on the list with many students claiming it’s the closest thing to NZT-48 on the market. Recently, Adderall has witnessed rampant abuse on college campuses at borderline epidemic levels. The problem brought awareness to much needed Adderall alternatives to help improve focus and concentration, safely and naturally.

The pill in Limitless had many adverse side effects—so does Adderall in the form of addiction and dependency issues. Excessive off-label use may also permanently damage your CNS (Central Nervous System) leading to irreversible depression, even with the proper mood enhancers. Besides natural substitutes, narcolepsy drug, Modafinil, has quickly gained traction as a safer alternative to Adderall. Modafinil offers stimulatory effects like Adderall, but with far fewer side effects. If you’re dead set on using one of these prescription drugs, choose Modafinil and stay well within the recommended dosage.

3. Racetams & Synthetic Nootropics

The search for the limitless pill NZT-48 often leads to the discovery of racetams. Racetams are synthetic substances initially developed as nootropics in Russia. These mental boosters are essentially research chemicals that enhance the cholinergic system. Acetylcholine is known as the “memory and learning” neurotransmitter. Its role in the brain is substantial, meaning, even a small improvement in acetylcholine synthesis can have a significant impact on cognition. Below is a list of popular racetams and synthetic smart pills for cognitive enhancement.

Piracetam

Aniracetam

Phenylpiracetam

Oxiracetam

Pramiracetam

Fasoracetam

Coluracetam

Noopept

Ampakines

Currently, most studies conducted using racetams and synthetic nootropics involve animal test subjects. Other research demonstrates the impact racetams have on elderly populations suffering from various neurodegenerative diseases. What seems to be missing are the studies on healthy young adults regarding brain function—memory, focus, concentration, etc. Although racetams typically serve as brain fog supplements and memory enhancers, the proof is not quite there.

The newness of these drugs and the lack of conclusive evidence on effectiveness and long-term safety makes them mostly experimental, like the pills from Limitless. The risks associated with synthetic substances and prescription ADHD medications is a turn off for most users. As more research becomes available, we may find out that racetams are safe and effective for long-term use. Until that point in time, we recommend using natural brain supplements.

The Real Life Limitless Pill Is Not a Drug

Smart drugs and cognitive enhancers can undoubtedly give you a mental edge. With that said, brain health supplements are only one piece of the puzzle. Your primary focus should not be placed solely on the use of limitless drugs and nootropics. The real-life limitless pill is not a capsule at all. It’s a lifestyle formula that may or may not require drastic changes in your day-to-day routine.

As appealing as a magic shortcut to success would be, one such supplement does not exist. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg did not have NZT-48. They worked excruciatingly hard day in and day out to refine their craft. What leads people to significant achievement is the right blend of personality attributes, positive mindsets, daily success habits, and personal health and nutrition. Restful natural sleep is also crucial for maintaining peak physical and mental performance. Improving your focus on those items will allow you to become a limitless human being and live a more fulfilling life.

Final Thoughts on the NZT Pills from Limitless

Nootropics are the only real-world limitless pills in existence in 2018, NZT-48 is fictional. Herbal and natural supplements are the safest long-term solution for boosting brain power. Science has proven that these smart drugs work remarkably well. By supplementing your brain with the proper nutrients, personal drive and desire will be the only limitation on your accomplishments.

The truth is, no pill or capsule will turn you into an overnight millionaire. There is no genius pill that will make you smarter. But you can support healthy brain function with nootropics, and the ability to think clearly may be your most important sidekick. Success is built from the ground up by shaping your life around your mission and your core values. Implement limitless personality attributes and mindsets, fortify success habits, and amplify your results with nootropics.